Similar to other titles in the Usborne Science Activities series, this book features interesting and easy-to-read science facts with an abundance of simple but exciting activities to demonstrate the concepts. Each two-page spread focuses on a different aspect of plants, including germination, growth, nutrients, light, flowers, trees, movement, useful plants, and more. The pages are filled with general information, interesting facts, and several fun activities to complete. For example, after reading about plant growth, readers can plant beans in a jar and watch them grow, investigate what plants need to grow, make a bottle garden, make a leaf rubbing, grow bulbs and carrot tops, and much more. - Jess

Covers various things of the sea and ocean, including underwater life, all kinds of animals, boats and ships, pollution, seashore life, coral reefs, unknown seas, and much more. This book also supplies Internet links to approved sites with additional information, pictures, and activities.

This 400-page paperback text from Usborne is a fantastic reference guide that provides an extensive overview of world geography. First, you get a general overview of planet Earth. Next, more detailed sections cover the geographical phenomena of earthquakes, volcanoes, oceans, weather, climate, and world ecosystems. The people and cultures of the world (North America, South America, Australasia and Oceania, Asia, Europe, and Africa) are then extensively discussed, followed by an Atlas of the World portion of the book comprised of various maps (60 total) of all seven continents. The text concludes with a Fact File section that provides a medley of information on topics including but not limited to geographers and scientists, world records, time zones, constellations, and types of government.

To take advantage of the interactive component of this book, visit the hundreds of websites recommended throughout the text. These sites were chosen to provide further information about people and places of the world and are reviewed and updated on a regular basis to ensure subject appropriateness and working order. Although it is "internet-linked," the Encyclopedia of World Geography is a complete book that can be used on its own. ~ Enh

Homeschool mom Sandy Strenkowski (author of the Charlotte Mason-inspired Living Learning Books science curriculum) found herself poring over a wide variety of history curriculums on the lookout for one that met all of her criteria, but try as she might, she didn't find one. So, she decided to put together her own, using many of the same ideas and methods she incorporated into Living Learning Books. If you've used and liked Living Learning Books science, you may want to check out Ancient History for your history studies. Just browsing through the program, it appears well-organized, engaging, and multi-faceted, incorporating a wide variety of subjects - particularly in the language arts area.

There are 114 lessons in the study, spanning the period between Creation and 444 B.C. The "backbone" of the lessons is in the "three R's" - reading, reflecting, and recording. For each lesson, the student will read assigned pages from one or several resource books. Additional assignments incorporated into many of the lessons include geography, Bible, handwriting, art appreciation, hands-on projects, timeline activities, and more. Although not every lesson includes every kind of assignment, each lesson includes the "Three R's" and a selection of additional assignments so the workload for each lesson isn't overwhelming.

The "command center" of the study is the Teacher's Manual, which includes a lesson-by-lesson outline of assignments and activities, as well as a helpful lesson plan grid. The lesson plan grid displays the reading assignments and activities for every lesson in a quick, at-a-glance format, which should help tremendously with lesson planning. After a short section written to orient the user to the format and organization of the curriculum, the remainder of the Teacher's Manual is devoted to the detailed lesson plans. Lesson plans contain all assignments and lesson suggestions, including reading, handwriting, enrichment activities, answers to the reviews (test) and more, as well as a list of required resources for the lesson, project supplies (if applicable), and the corresponding student pages. Please note that either the Usborne Ancient World OR the Usborne Encyclopedia of World History is required, not both. – Jess

The Cat in the Hat takes kids on an exploration of the planets, what they are like, the order they are in, and how to remember their names. Also included in this adventure is a glance at some constellations and a look at the sun and moon.

Mr. Popper has always been a dreamer. Although he dreams of traveling to exotic places (particularly the polar regions of the North and South Poles), the house painter has never been out of his hometown of Stillwater. Then one day, a package from Antarctica brings him a surprise (in the form of a penguin of course!) that will change his life forever. Follow the Popper family as they grow from a family of four with one pet penguin to a family of four with a dozen show-biz loving penguins. A Newbery Honor book, 140 pgs, pb. ~ Enh

This is a tale about a peddler, but not any ordinary peddler - this one carries his hats balanced on his head! After he walks a while, he decides to take a rest underneath a tree. Just to be sure, he checks that all of the caps are there and in place before he takes a nap. When he wakes up, he feels refreshed, rested, and happy... until he realizes his caps are all gone! Wherever did they go?